Sabah assistant minister, Sindumin rep, whistleblower charged

Summary

• Two Sabah reps and businessperson are charged over corruption linked to mineral prospecting licences in the state.

• All three claim trial to offences.

Two Sabah assemblypersons and a businessperson pleaded not guilty today to corruption charges involving bribes allegedly linked to mineral prospecting licences in the state.

The assemblypersons were state assistant minister Andi Suryady Bandy (Tanjung Batu) and Yusof Yacob (Sindumin).

Andi was charged with receiving RM150,000 in cash from businessperson Tei Jiann Cheing - also known as Albert Tei - in exchange for facilitating a prospecting licence application for Syarikat Sinaran Hayat Sdn Bhd.

The alleged offence took place on May 12, 2023 at Andi’s residence in Jalan Pantai Sembulan, Kota Kinabalu.

Andi - who is also Kalabakan MP - was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Yusof, who is also Qhazanah Sabah chairperson, was charged with receiving RM200,000 in cash from Tei at the Hilton Hotel’s rooftop bar in Kota Kinabalu on March 6, 2023. The bribe was allegedly meant to help process a prospecting licence for Syarikat Nusa Kini Sdn Bhd.

Tei, a businessperson from Selangor and the whistleblower in the case, was charged with two counts of offering bribes to the assemblypersons under the same legal provision.

All three pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court judge Jason Juga.

Bail granted

The court granted bail of RM50,000 each to the assemblypersons, with RM10,000 to be deposited and local sureties required. Tei was granted bail of RM60,000 for both charges, with RM15,000 to be deposited and also local sureties.

The court set Aug 5, 2025 for pre-trial case management.

MACC deputy public prosecutors Nurul Izzati Sapifee, Rustam Sanip, and prosecuting officer Rekhraj Singh prosecuted.

Lawyers Ram Singh, Rizwandean Bukhary M. Borhan, Shahlan Jufri, and Jaharah Patimbangi represented the two assemblypersons.

Tei, on the other hand, was represented by Edward Paul, Batholomew Jingulam, and Jul Hamri Jumhani.

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